Page 52 - World of Animals - Issue #36

The burrowers

A rabbit’s warren

Rabbits burrow in numbers to protect
their young and fend off predators
Famed for their remarkable reproduction
abilities, rabbits rely on their burrows as
a protective environment for their blind,
furless babies, known as kits. Networks
of these burrows are called warrens, and
each warren houses a lively and sociable
colony of up to 20 rabbits.
Warrens consist of multiple living
chambers, connected by a maze-like
network of tunnels. By burrowing in
groups, rabbits are afforded a greater
chance of survival. They benefit from the

territorial tendencies of their neighbours:
with lots of rabbits protecting their homes
in the same space, nesting babies become
less vulnerable to attacks from predators.

And with more twitching ears and sniffling
noses on the lookout for swooping owls
and stealthy foxes, the chance of survival

becomes significantly greater.
Domestic rabbits retain their burrowing
instincts, so it’s a good idea to provide
pet bunnies with a special digging area:
soil, sand and wood shavings can all help
to satisfy this need.

A group of rabbits is
called a warren, named

aer the collective
burrows they live in

How to Bank
By burrowing on hilly ground such
identify a as banks, wild rabbits benefit from

natural drainage, which helps to
rabbit’s prevent their homes from flooding.

warren
© The Art Agency/Ken Oliver; Thinkstock; NaturePL; Getty; FLPA; Dreamstime; Alamy; Shutterstock
Rabbit warrens are found
on sloped ground in a
wide variety of habitats,
including woods, forests
and fields.
Holes are approximately
15cm (6in) in diameter
and slope downwards at
a shallow angle.
Multiple holes close
together indicate where
different rabbits enter to
reach their nests.
Droppings, fur and Nest
grazed vegetation are Rabbit kits begin their Tunnel Entrance
Rabbits dig tunnels with their
Gentle sloping entrances allow
lives in the nest, a cosy
all promising signs that underground hollow front paws and push out rabbits to hop in and out of their
an area is occupied by that’s been insulated with excess dirt with their powerful burrows with minimal hassle. A
wild rabbits. grass, moss and fur from back legs. The tunnels are warren has multiple entrances

the mother rabbit’s belly. around 1m (3.3) in length. leading to different nests.
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